Defending champs excel

Two defending champions are at the top of the heap after 18 holes of play Saturday at the 2009 Elks Invitational.

Justin Ramer, the 2005 champion, carved out a three-under-par 69 to take sole possesion of the championship/A flight lead at the Elks Golf Course.

Three-time winner Chris Wilson, assistant head golf coach at Coastal Carolina in Jacksonville, N.C., is tied with Brant Gear for second place at two-under 70.

Fred Fehr

Two defending champions are at the top of the heap after 18 holes of play Saturday at the 2009 Elks Invitational.
Justin Ramer, the 2005 champion, carved out a three-under-par 69 to take sole possesion of the championship/A flight lead at the Elks Golf Course.
Three-time winner Chris Wilson, assistant head golf coach at Coastal Carolina in Jacksonville, N.C., is tied with Brant Gear for second place at two-under 70.
Wilson, the defending champion, also won the championship in 2001 and 2003.
Two other former champions didn’t fare nearly as well.
Dax Clark, the 2008 titleholder, ballooned to a 16-over 88, the highest score in the 24-entrant championship flight.
Brent Westfall, who took the top spot in 2006, recorded a seven-over 79.
Steve Montgomery posted an even-par 72 and is the sole possessor of fourth place.
Chad Lawrence, who lost to Wilson in last year’s playoff, is among four players at 74.
Jimmy Westfall has a two-shot lead over Gary Chyz in B flight while Tyree Love, off a 76, owns a two-shot cushion over Chad Trahan and Terry Painter in C flight.
Enjoying a three-shot cushion in D flight is Kody Smith with a two-over 74. Tied at 77 are Ron Hargus, Don Sherrer and Clark Baker.
The lone player to break 80 in E flight was Kenny Baker at 79.
One stroke back at 80 was Ronnie Larman at 80.
Heading the F flight entrants was Todd Gilbert at 86 with Shawn Gribble and Sam Champlin one back at 87.
Eighteen holes will be played today with the final 18 holes scheduled for Monday.

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